Isaiah 63:18

A little while. To Abraham the promise was given that the land of Canaan would be given to him and to his seed for an eternal inheritance (Gen. 13:14, 15; 17:8). In comparison with eternity the time from Joshua to Isaiah was but “a little while.” God’s promises are conditional. Because of their wickedness the Jews forfeited the promises made to Abraham.

Trodden down thy sanctuary. At the time of Isaiah the Assyrians had overrun most of the Holy Land (chs. 36—38), although they abandoned the attempt to take Judah. A century later the Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, put an end to the nation of Judah and destroyed Jerusalem, together with its Temple and walls (2 Kings 25:8-16). The Temple was still standing when Isaiah spoke these words. However, he was looking forward prophetically to the time when the Temple would be no more (see ch. 64:11; see Vol. I, pp. 27, 28).